MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — Marty Brooks was formally fired Wednesday as president and CEO of the Wisconsin Center District after board members upheld his termination following allegations of financial misconduct.

Brooks was given 45 minutes to address the Wisconsin Center District Board before members voted to uphold the decision. He was issued a notice of termination in June after the board accused him of misusing district funds and raised additional concerns about his conduct.

During the meeting, Brooks defended his leadership, highlighting his role in the development and expansion of Milwaukee's Baird Center. He also criticized board members and argued he is owed hundreds of thousands of dollars under the terms of his employment contract.

"My contract gives this board every right to terminate me for convenience," Brooks said. "I agreed to that and accept that, but it does not give the board the right to terminate me for convenience and demand I forego most of the compensation owed to me, and when I wouldn't do that, [they] go on a retroactive witch hunt to find any way to terminate me for cause."

Despite Brooks' defense, the board voted to uphold his dismissal.

Brooks' attorney criticized the proceedings, calling the 45-minute limit placed on his client's presentation "unreasonable."